Relationship between Short-term Variations in Electron Content & <i>f₀</i>F2 over the Indian Zone

Abstract

The short-term variations in, F-region critical frequencies (<i>f</i>_oF2) and ionospheric electron content (IEC) have been compared, in order to study the possibility of using IEC values to predict <i>f</i>₀F2 variations. These variations have been studied separately for both magnetically disturbed and quiet periods. The main results of the present study are: (i) in general, the deviations in <i>f₀</i>F2 and IEC from their monthly medians do not always follow similar patterns; (ii) however, during certain groups of quiet days the deviations in <i>f</i>₀F2 and IEC show similar patterns; and (iii) the extent of variability is found to be high around the equatorial anomaly peak as observed from both <i>f</i>₀F2 and IEC data.